Adam And The Ants - Dirk Wears White Sox

Original Release Date

1979

Release Information

UK LP 1979 (Do It - RIDE 3)

1 Cartrouble (Parts 1 & 2) 6:48
2 Digital Tenderness 3:03
3 Nine Plan Failed 5:11
4 Day I Met God 2:56
5 Tabletalk 5:32
6 Cleopatra 3:15
7 Catholic Day 3:05
8 Never Trust A Man (With Egg On His Face) 3:13
9 Animals And Men 3:17
10 Family Of Noise 2:36
11 The Idea 3:25

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UK LP 1983 (CBS - CBS 25361)
US LP 1983 (Epic - EK 38698)

1 Cartrouble 3:24
2 Kick 2:08
3 Digital Tenderness 3:57
4 Nine Plan Failed 5:06
5 Family Of Noise 2:33
6 Tabletalk 5:26
7 Zerox 3:45
8 Cleopatra 3:12
9 Never Trust A Man (With Egg On His Face) 3:10
10 Animals And Men 3:14
11 The Idea 3:21
12 Whip In My Valise 3:55

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Europe CD 2006 (Columbia - 88697003072)

Original November 1979 Album Release (Do It RIDE 2)
1 Cartrouble (Parts 1 & 2) 6:48
2 Digital Tenderness 3:03
3 Nine Plan Failed 5:11
4 Day I Met God 2:56
5 Tabletalk 5:32
6 Cleopatra 3:15
7 Catholic Day 3:05
8 Never Trust A Man (With Egg On His Face) 3:13
9 Animals And Men 3:17
10 Family Of Noise 2:36
11 The Idea 3:25
Original July 1979 7" Release (Do It DUN 8)
12 Zerox 3:46
13 Whip In My Valise 3:59
Original March 1982 12" E.P. Release (Do It DUNIT 20)
14 Kick 1:34
15 Physical 3:56
16 Cartrouble (Parts 1 & 2) 6:35
17 Friends 2:38
Original March 1980 7" Release (Do It DUN 10)
18 Cartrouble 3:24
19 Kick! 2:06

Chart Placings

UK Indie Hit: 1, 90 wks
UK Chart Hit (entered Jan 81): 16, 29wks

Credits

1979 LP:

Words and music by Adam Ant
David Barbe - percussion
Matthew Ashman - guitar, piano
Andy Warren - bass
Adam Ant - all voices/electric and acoustic guitar/piano/harmonica

Produced by Adam Ant
Engineered by Benny King
Assisted by Paul Ludgate
Recorded at Sound Development Studios, London, Aug '79

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1983 LP:

Produced by Adam Ant (except [1, 2] by Chris Hughes)
Musicians: David Barbarrosa, John Moss, Andy Warren, Matthew Ashman, Marco Pirroni, Adam Ant
Engineers: Benny King, Hugh Jones and Trevor Hallesey
Recorded at Sound Development, Roundhouse and Rockfield Studios, July 1979 - March 1980

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Additional Credits on CD:

Project Producer: Marco Pirroni
Digital Mastering by Gordon Vicary at Soundmasters

Reviews & Opinions

PUNKY GIBBON: Fuelled by Ant's obsession with personality, religion, Nazis and oral sex, Dirk Wears White Sox drifts tunelessly and aimlessly from one dirge-like racket to the next, alleviated only by the presence of the comparatively poppy 'Cartrouble'. Otherwise it's squally guitars and very little in the way of memorable tunes.

JOE YOUNG/IRA ROBBINS/KATE LEWIS, THE TROUSER PRESS RECORD GUIDE, 1991: When London art-school escapee Adam (Stuart Goddard) turned up with the Ants on the awful Jubilee movie soundtrack in 1978, you'd never have guessed he'd amount to anything. Like much of the record, his two cuts were just ordinary meatgrinder punk. Nor was the ambitious Dirk Wears White Socks all that encouraging, despite the considerable effort Adam obviously expended on it. The self-produced LP's word-heavy tunes examine sexual excess ("Cleopatra"), bizarre visions ("Day I Met God"), alienation ("Digital Tender- ness") and the like. Adam's dour, uncomfortable vocals find compatible backing from his band, which sounds nearly dead and far too slow. It's as if the nastiest portion of Ziggy Stardust had come to life full-blown.

ALL MUSIC GUIDE: [A] sometimes-awkward fusion of punk, glam, and minimalist post-punk with bizarre images and disturbing tales of alienation, sex, and brutality. And while the somewhat pretentious, overly arty lyrics and inexperienced playing are a drawback, the album offers a fascinating look at the Ants' formative years, capturing a raw energy that would be sacrificed for more polish on subsequent releases.

Additional Credits

1983 LP:

1-2: Cartrouble 7", 1980
3-6, 8-11 from original Do It LP, 1979
7, 12: Zerox 7"

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CD Bonus Tracks:

12-13: Zerox 7", 1979
14-17: The Antmusic E.P. 7"/12", 1982
18-19: Cartrouble 7", 1980

Additional Notes

This LP wasn't released in America until Epic reissued the LP on both sides of the Atlantic in 1983. This came in a totally new sleeve and was not only remixed but replaced two dreary songs with three of their best - 'Zerox', 'Whip In My Valise' and 'Kick!' - and only includes part II (i.e. the best bit) of 'Cartrouble'.

It has reissued numerous times since, but the one to get is undoubtedly the 2004 remaster with bonus tracks, lyrics, liner notes and photos.

Images

UK LP 1979 (Do It - RIDE 3). Click here for more

UK LP 1983 (CBS - CBS 25361)

US LP 1983 (Epic - EK 38698). Click here for more

Europe CD 2006 (Columbia - 88697003072). Click here for more (This same version had been previously issued as a digipak in 2004. I prefer jewel cases, so here it is.)

 

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